Telegraph exchange system



March 19, 1940. E, R, WH R ET AL 2,193,810

TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS E.R.WHEEI ER BY R, HOOVER R.F. DIRKES a. Ii WHEELER ET AL TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS E. RWHEELER R.HOOVER BY\R.F.DIRKES 4 ATT RNEY Mart]: 19, 1940. 5, WHEELER AL 2,193,810

' TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 SWBD JACKS SEQUENCE v RELAY CONTROL w Z INVENTORS J E.R.WHEEI ER RHOOVER BY R.F. DIR'KES ATT RNEY Mm w, 1940. WHEELER Em 2,193,810

TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1936 Q SheetS-Sheet 5 i.- E 'QQQ':

m t I S8 Y H INVENTORS E.R.WHEELER RHOOVER R.F. DIRKES ATT RNEY' March 19, 1940. E WHEELER ET AL 2,193,810

TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Feb. 24, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS E.R.WHEELER BY R.HOOVER RF. 1 0 RKES 6 m2; aw- ATTO NEY March 19, 1940. R'WHEELER ET AL 2,193,810

TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM I Filed Feb. 24, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS E.'R.WHEELER- R.HOOVER BY R. F'.DIRKES A ORNEY E. R. wHEELEE ET AL V 2,193,810

March 19, 1940.

TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed F eb. 24, 1936 9 Sheets- Sheet a g .n o 0 a a w .2 D E INVENTORS E.R.WH EELER R. HOOVER BY R.F. DIR Es K Patented Mar. 19, 1940- l UNITED STATES TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Evan R. Wheeler and Ray Hoover, Plainiield, N. and Robert F. Dirkes, Jamaica, N. Y., assign to The Western Union Telegraph Compa... New York, N. Y;, a corporationof New York Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,516

60 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and appa ratus for storing and repeating electrical signals or impulses, and particularly to multi-ofilce telegraph exchange systems embodying means for relaying signals or messages through one or more oflices.

In general terms, the object of the invention as applied to printing telegraph systems is to expedite the handling of messages where a direct line or channel is not available between the originating and final offices, for example, where a message originates in a branch office or station connected to a main or central oflice and must be retransmitted from the central office over one or more channels such as inter-city trunks to reach its destination; to relay messages from branch office simplex or start-stop printers over multiplex channels and vice versa without manual retransmission; and to reduce to a minimum the manual operations involved in relaying messages through an intermediate office while adhering to the present practice of in'terposing identifying or service code signals between messages to facilitate the tracing of lost or mutilated messages whichmust be repeated. As will appear, certain features of the invention are not limited to printing telegraph systems of the above-mentioned character.

Prior to this invention, messages originating in branch telegraph oflices and destined for a remote ofilce have been transmitted to a printer at the local main or central omce. After being received at the central office, the message in printed ,form was carried manually or by a mechanical conveyor to an operator assigned to a trunk or channel to the distant ofdce and the operator retransmitted the message with a keyboard transmitter or sender connected to said channel. The messages sent over each inter-city channel were numbered consecutively by the operator and the identifying number was transmitted with each message in order to preventthe loss of messages and facilitate the tracing of mutilated or incomplete messages. This method of handling inter-.office communication involved several disadvantages, including some delay or ,oflice drag," but possessed the advantages of permitting monitoring of the service at all times, rapid tracing of lost or mutilated messages, flexible routing of messages in case of trunk congestion or tie-up and the proper handling of difierent classes of services, such as sending fullrate telegrams ahead of deferred messages.

It has been proposed to relay messages from 'circuit, a channel of a multiplex, etc.

a branch oflice through the central ofllce with automatic selection of the outgoing channel at the central oflice under the control of the operator at the branch or originating oilice, thereby eliminating the necessity for printing and han- 5 "have lacked certain of the above-enumerated advantages of the manual retransmission system.

' In additionto the difficulties of tracing messages and handling difierent classes of service, it is very difficult for the operator at the branch ofiice to route the messages properly in a large multi-ofilce system in view of the large number of channels available and the routing changes necessitated from time to time by temporary 20 overloading of certain channels or by apparatus or line troubles.

In accordance with the present invention, a semi-automatic switching system is provided at the central oflice arranged to permit messages from a branch or subscriber's oflice equipped with standard start-stop printers to be transmitted into outgoing trunks orchannels, such as synchronous multiplex channels, selected by an operator or attendant at the central office. The switching system may also be arranged to select branch office lines in order to take care of messages destined for local branch oifices. In addition, automatic means associated with each outgoing channel or predetermined channels are provided to number the messages sent over each channel so that lost or mutilated messages may be traced. Preferably the outgoing channel may be manually selected whether busy or idle, and is automatically seized as soon as it is idle and released upon completion of the transmission of the message in order to utilize such channels with maximum eiliciency. The word channel is used herein to designate any communication path, including a metallic circuit, a phantom In accordance with a further feature of the invention, code-signal storage devices are provided in the central oflice for the branchoiiice trunlm in order that the message may be cleared out of the branch omce without Waiting until an intercity channel becomes idle and in order to simplify transmission from a branch oflice having a start-stop transmitter into an outgoing multiplex channel at the central offlce.

destination of the message, may connect the transmitter to the proper outgoing channel or communication circuit. The manually operable switching means may, for example, include a -multiple-conductor plughaving a plurality of contacts connected to the transmitter terminals, the plug being adapted to be inserted in jacks \connected to the respective outgoing channels. In large ofllces, the jacks ,may be multipled to several switching positions and means are provided for rendering the transmitters operative in sequence when more than one is plugged into the same channel.- Ordinarily each channel or outgoing communication circuit has associated therewith a local sending position in the central ofiice'and therefore means are provided whereby upon completion of the transmission of a message from a local position, the channel is connected to the switchboard if a stored message is waiting to be sent over said channel.

The establishment of the connection to an outgoing channel by an operator at the central oflice permits monitoring of the service and the switching of deferred messages to a local position for relaying at a subsequent time. The operator's duties primarily. consist in plugging the storagetransmitters into the proper jacks upon reception of messages at the central omce and breaking down the connection upon receiving a signal that transmission'oi a message over the outgoing channel has been completed. The tracing of messages is rendered possible by the numbering oi the messages, as described above, the numbering mechanism being preierably arranged to transmit also code signals identifying the channel and city of destination, or any other desired information.

The semi-automatic switching system embodying the present invention in which an operator at the central oflice selects the outgoing channels or circuits for messages originating at branch or subscribers ofiices or reaching the central office over other incoming channels, permits message routing under the direct supervision of a trained traflic employee having information and routing instructions that are not availableto the outside ofllce operators. In the event of line or equipment trouble or the overloading of direct channels to a certain destination, instructions for the rerouting of messages may be immediately put into effect and tramc moved with the minimum delay. There is also more latitude in routing messages to small towns which are not directly connected by channel with the originating central ofllce. A directory listing all the cities and towns connected to the system with correct routing for messages sent to them would be very large and unwieldy for branch operators to use. It is thus highly desirable to centralize the routing of messages in a relatively small group of specially trained central omce em ployees.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the Each storage devicehas assoand control apparatus of the system shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and! are circuit diagrams of a modi- I fication of the system shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5; and

fled system shown in Fig. 2 omitting parts 01 the Figs. 8 and 9 are circuit diagrams of the modi system which are similar. to the circuits and apparatus of Figs; 3, 4 and 5-or of Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring to Fig. '1, a plurality of branch or subscribers ofiices BOi, B02 are connected to the central oflice by conductors ll, 12 and l3, M, respectively. The printer PRI, provided for example with a start-stop or simplex transmitter, is connected to the line ii,- l2 by inserting the plug P into the jack J.'- The printer PR2 at the sec-- ond branch oflice may be connected to the line i3, H by actuating a key K. The branch ofllce printers may be similar to the Model 14 tape teletype described in Bulletin No. 126 of the Morkrum-Kleinschmidt Corporation.

The messages transmitted to the central oiflce from the branch or subscribers oilices are stored by recording or storing devices RI, R2, R3, which may be, for example, combined printers and tape reperforators of the type shown in the 1935. These combined printers and reperiorators print the message characters received and also reperforate a tape in such manner that when the tape is passed through a tape transmitter, the message signals will be repeated. Each reperiorator may be provided with mechanism similar to that shown in the patent to Dirkes and Kimball, No. 1,931,790, dated October 24, 1933, for advancing the tape therethrough at the end of each message group of signals. Tape transmitters TTI, 1T2, TT3, for example of the type shown in the patent to BenJamin, No. 1,298,440, dated March 25, 1919, are associated with the respective signal storing devices for repeating the signals stored in the tape. Other forms 01' signal storing and repeating apparatus may be employed instead of the reperiorator and tape transmitter, iidesired, such as mechanical, electrical or magnetic storage transmitters. The signals may also be stored in the form of visible marks or the like on a tape, ribbon or other rea relatively large number 01' lines or the traflic is light, however, a number of reperiorators less than the number of lines is provided, and finder switches SWi, SW2 on the respective lines are arranged to connect an idle reperiorator to the branch oiiice line when a message is waiting to be transmitted in a manner similar to that em.-

, ployed in the tunic-concentrating systems of the prior art, such for example as that shown in the patent to Blanton, No. 1,928,586, dated Beptem- 7-5 inter-ofilce trunks are designated m. These jacks may be arranged in various ways; for example, they may be multipled before two or more operators positions and preferably both simplex and multiplex jacks are disposed at each position so that any tape transmitter-TI may be connected to any of the simplex lines or multiplex channels terminating at the central oflice.

In the case of a message destined for one of the branch omces, the tape transmitter TT is plugged into a jack J individual to said oflice and the message-is repeated over the branch ofllce 'line.under the control of the control apparatus CA and the start-stop distributor SSD, the latter unit being arranged to add synchronizing impulses to each code signal in order to operate a start-stop printer at the branch oflice. The numbering machine or service code transmitter N is arranged to append to each message a numher and other service code signals of any desired character.

In the case of a message destined for one of the channels of the inter-ofilcetrunks, the tape transmitter is plugged into a jack J individual.

to said channel, whereupon the tape transmit- 'ter is rendered operative under the control of the control apparatus CA to repeat the message over saidchannel. The message is numbered by the numbering machine N. The numbering of messages may be omitted in the case of messages to either branch omces or multiplex chan-' nels or in both cases, if desired.

In the case of incoming messages received Over the inter-city channels, the messages are stored-by the storing units or receiving reperfo-- noting the destination of the message from the perforated or printed page, plugs the associated tape transmitter TT into the proper Jack J; whereupon the message is repeated in exactly the same manner as in the case of messages originating at the branch offlces. It will be noted that the system described has the advantage that the code signal repeating apparatus and the switchboard circuits except for minor changes in the control apparatus CA are identical .ior all circuits interconnected through the exchange.

One form of switching, numbering and control apparatus applicable to the system shown in Fig. 1 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 3; d and 5. The switchboard plugs -MPI, MP2 and MP8 associated with the repeater transmitters TTI, TH and TT3 respectively in Fig. Sare shown as in Fig. 1. The jacks JI, JIIi and JIM shown in Fig. 3, however, are each individual to the same outgoing channel A of multiplex distributor TDI to illustrate the manner in which transmitters plugged into the same channel at the same time are rendered operative one at a time. The circuits and apparatus associated with similar jacks allocated to other outgoing channels are similar to those illustrated and for the sake of simplicity are not shown; in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The plug MPH and jack 5M provide for the interconnection of an incoming multiplex channel andone of the outgoing channels.

The'transmitters TIA and TZB '(Fig. 4) at the local sending position are individual to channel A of multiplex distributor TDI and channel B of multiplex distributor TD2 respectively. The service code transmitter or numbering mechanism NI individual to channel A of transmitting distributor TDI is shown in Fig. 5 and the corresponding service code transmitter N4 individual to channel B of multiplex distributor TD2 is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 4. It is to be understood that a transmitter similar to the transmitter NI is associated with each of the outgoing channels although each transmitter is preferably arranged .to send a different group of service code signals as explained below.

In order to summarize briefly the general operation of the systemandapparatus illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it=may be assumedthat one or more than one message destined for channel A of multiplex distributor TDI has been stored in the tape in one or more of the reperforators RI, R2, R3. The switching operator notes the destination of the first message on each tape and plugs the tape transmitter TTI, TT2 or "IT3 into-one of the jacks JI, JIIl or JIM allocated to the proper outgoing channel. If more than one reperforator has recorded a message for said channel, the associated transmitters may be plugged into separate ones.of said jacks at the same time and the transmitters will be rendered operative to repeat the messages one after the. other.

The local tape transmitter TIA of channel A of distributor TDI is normally connected to said channel to transmit messages thereover from the local position. If, however, a message or messages for said channel have been received rom one or more branch oihces upon the reperforators RI, R2, R3, the transmitter TIA is disconnected fromthe channel at the end of a message and the channel is automatically connected to the switchboard to clear out the message or messages stored by the reperforators. After the messages awaiting transmission over said channel at the switchboard have been sent. the local transmitter TIA is automatically reconnected to the channel and a signal is operated to notify the switching operator to withdraw the connecting plug in the switchboard associated with the repeater transmitter which has completed its function. Each message transmitted over channel A of distributor TDI, whether it originated at the local position or at one of the branch ofllces, is preceded by service codesignals from the transmitter NI (Fig. 5) whereby successive messages may be given consecutive numbers or other desired code signals may be appended to the messages. The equipment associated with channel A of distributor TDI is typical of that provided for each channel, the transmitting and control apparatus associated with channel B of distributor TDZ, for example, and shown in condensed diagrammatic form in the lower half of Fig. 4, being of the same character as that shown in detail in connection with the first-mentioned channel.

In the embodiment of the invention shown,

each message character is represented by signals a spacing impulse, and followed by an end-of- .message signal consisting ofa spacing impulse.

a marking impulse and three spacing impulses. The spacing impulses. for example. may .consist I of no-current intervals and the marking impulses may be current impulses, or they may be of opposite polarity as desired.

Assuming that a message is to be transmitted from the tape transmitter TIA to the receiving printer. RPRI at the remote oflice and no message for the same channel is awaiting trans-- mission at the switchboard, the first arbitrary signal described above is sent by the transmitter.

The transmitter TIA may be similar to the tape transmitter described in the above-mentioned patent to Benjamin, No. 1,298,440, and is provided with a grounded marking busbar 36 and a stepping magnet 31 for stepping the tape. The. transmitting contacts of transmitter TIA are connected to five baflle relays 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35. The transmitting contacts 30 are also connected through armatures and back contacts of relays All and 91 to segments ofthe transmitting ring of distributor TDI. The stepping magnet 31 is likewise connected through an armature and back contact of relays 4i and 91 to a local segment on distributor TDI. The transmission of the special signal in which thefourth pulse is a marking impulse causes the energization of relay 34, thereby closing a circuit through the upper armatures and back contacts of relays 3|, 32 and 33, the upper armature and front contact of relay 34 and the upperarmature and back contact of relay 35 for energizing relay 40. It will be apparent that this circuit will not be closed upon the transmission of any other code signals from the transmitter TIA corresponding to the characters forming the message.

Relay becomes energized and closes a locking circuit through its left hand outer armature and front contact whereby .the relay remains energized after the initial energizing circuit is interrumed. Relay 40 further closes through its" third armature and front contact the circuit of relay 4i, whereupon the latter becomes energized and disconnects the transmitter TIA from the distributor TDI until the numbering mechanism Ni has completed its function. Upon the energization of relay 4|, a circuit is closed through the inner armatures and front contacts of'relays 4 and M for energizing the stepping magnet 31 of the transmitter TIA. The tape in the transmitter is stepped to present the next code combination but the contact tongues 30 remain on the spacing bus-bar until the magnet 31 becomes deenergized as described below.

The energization of relay 40 also closes through its second armature and front contact and conductor 42 a circuit for energizing relay 43 (Fig. 5) whereupon this relay becomes energized and connects the numbering mechanism N! to the transmitting segments of distributor TDi. The numbering mechanism may be constructed in various ways but the modification shown is simi lar to that described in the copending application of Dirkes, Hoover and Wheeler, Ser. No. 51,522, filed November 25; 1935. In the preferred form illustrated, the device comprises three rotatable code drums, a letters code drum 45, a units code drum 46 and a tens code drum t? adapted to be positioned by a stepping magnet 48 operatively connected to a pawl t9 arranged to actuate a ratchet wheel 50 secured to the letters code drum 45.

The code drum 451s arranged to make one complete revolution during each cycle of operation and assumes ten different angular positions determined by the teeth on the ratchet wheel 50 during each cycle. The number ofv signals sent the segments of the drum 41 one-tenth of a revolution after ten 10 revolutions of the drum 45.

Each of the code drums is provided with suitably arranged contact-actuating cam members or pins which may be threaded into the drums, if desired, and are adapted to actuate contact 15 members Iii-68 associated with the drum 45, contact members I |-|6 associated with the drum 4S and contact members 8l-85 associated with the drum H to open and close circuits in accordance with the positions of said predetermined code combinations are set upon the distributor 'I'Dl during the operating cycle of the numbering mechanism. Each group of service code signals comprises invariable signals of predetermined character cor- 25 responding to characters or letters and to printer functions and also variable signals corresponding to numerals. The numerals sent to the receiving printer comprise two digits, the units digit being changed in each cycle of operation 30 from 1 to 2, 3-9, o-and the tens digit being changed after each ten cycles from 0 to 1, 2-8, 9 whereby consecutive messages are numbered from 01 to 99 or (1)00. It will be apparent that by changing the positions and variable code signals may be readily changed if desired. 1

' "I'henumbering mechanism further comprises a relay having five armatures connected to the breakcontacts of the transmitting contact 0 members Gl-BS and a key 89 for automatically restoring the .units drum 46 to normal. The

groups of front and back contacts of relay 88 are connected respectively to the contact members ii-45 and 8i-85 whereby the transmitting circults may be placed successively under the consome other predetermined number. The contact 16 of the units drum 46 is closed in all positions'of the drum except the normal or starting position. If the drum has been rotated from the 55 normal position, therefore, upon actuating the restoring key as, a circuit is closed through the windings of the stepping magnet 48, contact member is of units code drum 43, key 83, local segment 9b of the distributor TDI. brush 9! so and ring 32 to battery, whereby the stepping magnet as is periodically energized during the rotation of'brush 98. The step-by-step-rotation of drums at and 46 by the magnet 48 continues until the drum 86 reaches its normal position where the contact member it is actuated to in terrupt the circuit of the magnet. The tens code drum 4'! is preferably restored to normal manu- 43, as described above. the circuit of stepping drums whereby 20 or the pins to, the fixed as magnet 48 is closed through the inner armature and front contact of relay 43 to the local segment 90 of the distributor. As the brush 9i of the distributor passes over the transmitting segments 93, spacing impulses are first sent to the-line since the conductors connected to the segments 93 are open-circuited at the contacts 6I65 of the cam drum 45. As shown, the usual line relay 94 is interposed between the line conductor to the remote ofidce and the transmitting ring 95 of the distributor. Thefcircuit of stepping magnet 48 is then closed through segment 80 and, as the distributor brush 9i breaks contact with the local segment 98, the cam drum 45 is stepped to its second position. In a similar manner, the cam drum 45 is rotated step-bystep as the brush 9i contacts with the local segment 80 during each rotation of the distributor brushes until the drum has made a complete revolution.

In the successive positions of the drum 45 various permutation code signals are sent over the line by applying or removing ground potential from the transmitting segments 98 of channel A through the contact members I-55 of the drum. In the embodiment shown, in the second position of cam drum 45, predetermined contact members of the group -65 are actuated to connect certain of the transmitting segments 93 to ground through contact member 66 to send a code signal corresponding to letters shift. The receiving printer RPRI is thus positioned to print letter characters. In the third, fourth and fifth positions of the drum it, the contact members 6 I 65 are selectively-positioned to send code signals representing the characters F, W and A, which it may be assumed refer-to the identity of the originating oflice (W) and the transmitting channel (A) to the remote office. The letters F, W and A are thus printed by the receiving printer in advance of the message'group of signals. The pins 60 in the letters code drums of the numbering mechanisms N2, N3, etc., are so arranged as to set up code combinations representing their associated channels or other desired characters.

In the sixth position of the code the contact members iii-BIS are positioned to cause the distributor TDI to send the code signal representing figures shift over the line, whereupon the receiving printer R'PRS is positioned to print figures. In the seventh position of the code drum 45, the contact members ill-65 are in contact with their respective back contacts and contact members 68 and 6'5 are operated, thereby energizing relay 88 and applying ground potential to the make contacts of contact members II-15 and 8I-85 of the units and tens code drums. Relay 88 on becoming energized connects the contacts 01' the tens drum 4i through the back contacts of contact members ti -65 of the letters code drum 45 to the distributor TDI whereupon the tens digit 0) is transmitted to the receiving printer. In the next position of code drum 45, the circuit of relay 88 is interrupted at contact 61, and the units code drum til is thus connected to the distributor TDII to send the units digit (1). Before the next units digit is sent in thesecond cycle of operation of the numbering machine, the units code drum 46 is turned by the Geneva cam 5i and the wheel 52 to set up the code combination corresponding to the figure 2. The tens code drum 4! is similarly stepped by the Geneva cam 53 and wheel 54 from one angular position to the next to change the 6 aieaaio contacts of the respective contact members BI-65 which are selectively operated to set up on the distributor TDI the code combination corresponding to the letters shift. The receiving printer RPRI is thus placed in condition to receive and record the message group of signals. The tenth or last signal sent during each cycle of operation may be a blank and as the code drum 45 is stepped from its tenth position to its initial or starting position, the contact member 68 is operated to apply ground potential momentarily to conductors 96 and H2. Asthe conductor 96 is connected to the winding of relay 40, this relay is short-circuited and becomes deenergized, thereby interrupting the above-described circuits of relays 4I and 43. Relays GI and 43 become deenergized thereby disconnecting the numbering mechanism NI from the distributor TDI and connecting the transmitter TIA to said distributor.

Upon the deenergization of relay 48, the circuit of the stepping magnet 31 of transmitter TIA is interrupted, whereupon said magnet becomes deenergized and the contact tongues 30 take their positions according to the next character code combination in the tape. The stepping magnet 37 is connected through the inner armatures and back contacts of relays 4| and 9? to the local segment 90 and the contact tongues similarly to the transmitting ring segments Q3 of the distributor TDI, whereupon the transmission of the message stored in the tape is effected in the At the end of the message group of signals an end-of-message signal in which only the second pulse is a marking impulse is sent by the transmitter TIA. This signal causes bafiie relay 32 to become energized while relays 3E, 3t and are deenergized and a. circuit is closed from battery through the lower armature and back contact of relay 3i the lower armature and front contact of relay 32 and the lower armatures and back contacts of relays 33, 3t and 35 to the winding of transfer relay 9?. The function of relay 9? is to disconnect the distributor 'IDf from transmitter TIA and connect the same to the switchboard if a message is awaitiu transmission from one of the repeater transmitters Tli,

TT2 or TN. If no message for that channel is fore be transmitted from the local position transmitter TIA as described above, and the succeeding messages will be preceded by the service code signals transmitted by the numbering mechanism NI in each instance.

If a message has been received and stored by one of the reperforators, for example, repel-forafor R2, the switching operator notes the destination of the message and knowing that it should be sent over channel A of distributor TDi, plugs the transmitter I'I'2 into one of the jacks, for instance, the jack J In of said channel. The insertion of the plug MP2 into the jack J I0 closes the contacts of switch llll and connects the transmitter 'I'I2 through the contacts of the plug and jack, the cable I00, the contacts of front contact, conductor come energized if a plug relay I03 when energized and cable I04 to the front contacts of relay 91. When the transmission of the previous message sent from the local position has been completed, the end-of-messa'ge signal causes the energization of relay 32, and the transfer relay 01 becomes energized through a circuit including the contacts of relays 3I-35, inclusive, conductor, contacts IOI .of the Jack JIO and the outer armature and back contact of relay I01. The energization of relay 01 disconnects the transmitter TIAfrom the distributor TDI and connects thereto the transmitter 'I'I2 which is plugged into the switchboard, the transmitting and stepping magnet circuits however remaining open until relay I03 becomes energized as described below.

Each of the other jacks J I and J I hasassociated therewithrelays 203 and 303, respectively, corresponding to relay I03. and said relays are arranged to connect the jacks to the distributor TDI, One at a time, if transmitters are plugged into more than one jack at the same time. The connecting relays I03, 203, 303, are deenergized,

however, while the numbering mechanism NI is operative.

Relay 91 locks as battery is applied through its left hand armature and front contact. Upon the energization of relay 91, a' circuit is closed from battery through its outer armature and I05, the inner armature and back contact of relay 206, the second armature and back contact of relay 306, the winding of slow-acting relay I06, the back contact and inner armature of relay I01, and contacts IOI of the jack to ground at the key I08. Relay I06 becomes energized and opens at its inner armature and back contact and at its fourth armature and back contact the circuits of relays 306 and 206, respectively. so that these relays cannot beis inserted in jack JI or J I00 before transmission is completed from transmitter 'IT2.

Since the message stored in transmitter TT2 is preceded by the special signal in which the fourth pulseis a marking impulse, upon the transmission of thisv signal a circuit is closedfrom battery through the second armature and front contact of relay I06, the upper armatures and back contacts of relays I3I-I33, the upper armature and front contact of relay' I34, the upper armature and back contact of relay I35,

, conductor I03 and the winding of relay IIO to v(it) ground whereupon relay I I0. becomes energized and is locked up through a locking circuit including its left hand armature and front contact.

Relay I I0 remains locked up until the conductor I03 is grounded through conductor H2 and con-' tact 60 after the numbering machine NI has completed its function as described above.

The energization of relay IIO energizes relay 03 through a circuit including conductors 02 and II I and the right hand inner armature and front contact of relay M0 to connect the numbering,

device Ni to the distributor TDI. The energize.- tion of relay IEO also opens at itsright hand inner armature and back contact the circuit of.

relay I03 contro'ling the connection of the repeater transmitter TTZ to the distributor TDI, and closes a circuit through its right hand outer armature and front contact and the third armature and front contact of relay I06 for energizing magnet 131 and stepping the tape in transmitter TT2 to the next character.

Upon the energization of relay 43, the operation of the numbering mechanism NI is initiated as described above and the mechanism sends the group of service code signals to the line and then momentarily applies ground potential to the conductor H2 at the contact 63 to effect the deenerg'ization of relay H0. The deenergization of relay IIO opens at its outer right hand armature and front contact the circuit of stepping magnet I31 of transmitter TI! whereupon the tape transmitter tongues are positioned for the next character. A circuit is also closed through the right hand inner armature and back contact of relay IIO, the winding of relay I03 and the outer armatureand front contact of relay I06 to ground whereupon reay I03 becomes energized and connects the transmitting contacts and stepping magnet I31 of transmitter 'I'I2 to the transmitting and local segments of the distributor TDI and transmission of the message stored in the tape at the repeater transmitter is effected in the usual manner.

The message is followed by an end-of-message signal causing relay I32 of battle relay group' gized and locks up through aicircuit including its right hand inner armature and front contact, contacts IOI ofthe jack JIO and key I08. At its left hand armature and front contact, relay I01 closes a circuit from battery through the signal lamp H5, #6 conductor of cable I00, jack J I0, plug MP2 and stepping magnet I31 of transmitter 'I'IZ to ground whereupon the stepping magnet I31 becomes energized, the tape is advanced to clear the end-of-message signal, and the lamp H5 is lighted to indicate to the switching operator that transmission of the message by the transmitter TT! has been competed. The energization of magnet I31 breaks the circuit of baifie relay I32 but relay I01 remains locked up through the contacts l0l of the jack and the key I08.

The energization of relay I01 also interrupts at its right hand inner armature and back contact the circuit of relay Hi6 whereupon said relay becomes deenergized and opens .at its outer armature and front contact the circuit of relay I03 to' disconnect the transmitter TTZ from the distributor and render the same available immediately for the transmission of another message over channel A. I The energization of relay 501 further interrupts at its right hand outer armature and back contact the above-described circuit of relay Q1, and if neither of the other transmitters TTI or 'IT3 has been plugged into the switchboard, re ay 91 becomes deenergized and reconnects the local tape transmitter TIA to the distributor TDI.

Upon the lighting of the signal lamp M5, the switching operator withdraws the plug MP2 from the jack J I0 if there is no other messagestored in the tape in transmitter TT2 or if the next message is for a destination reached by another channel, thereby opening the. locking circuit of relay I01 at the contacts I0i of the jack. Relay I01 becomes deenergized and opens at its left hand armature and'front contact the circuit of lamp H5 andof the stepping magnet I31 of the transmitter TT2. If there is a rr sage in the tape to be transmitted cw the sa 2 0 nin as the previous message, it is unnecessary to withdraw the plug from the jack. The switching operator actuates the key Hi8, opening the circuit of relay llll' whereupon the lamp HE is extinguished and the stepping magnet I3! is deenergized, setting the transmitter tongues on the next selection. Relay [8t becomes energized when the key ms is released and the transmission of the second message proceeds in the manner described above. If there is a message in the tape to be repeatedover another channel, it is necessary to insert the plug MP2 in a jack allocated to said other channel, upon which the message is automatically repeated over said channel.

If another transmitter is plugged into a jack, for example the jack J l, leading to the same channel while the transmitter TM is sending over the channel, a parallel holding circuit for relay 9'11 is closed through conductor 98, contacts 2! of the jacl; J l and the right hand outer armature and back contact of relay 201. Relay 91 thus remains energized when its circuit through the contacts of relay H3? is interrupted as described above after transmission of the first message is completed, and the distributor TDl remains connected to the switchboard to take care of the additional message awaiting transmission at the switchboard.

When relay I96 becomes deenergized as described above at the end of the message sent by the transmitter TM, a circuit is closed from battery through the right hand outer armature and front contact of relay 9?, conductor I05, the fourth armature and back contact of relay I05, the fourth armature and back contact of relay 396, the winding of relay 2%, the right hand inner armature and back contact of relay till, contacts 2M of the jack J l and key 208 to ground, whereupon relay 206 becomes energized. The energization of relay 208 opensat its inner armature and back contact the circuit of relay I06, and at its second armature and back contact the circuit of relay 366 to prevent seizure of the channel by transmitters plugged into the jacks J l0 and J ace before transmission 0! the message has been completed by the transmitter plugged into the jack J l. The energizatlon of relay 206 further initiates the operation of the service and message number code transmitter and of the transmitter plugged into the jack J l as described above in connection with relay I06 associated with jack Jill.

If transmitters had been plugged into both jacks J l and J Hill during the transmission by transmitter TF2, first the transmitter plugged into jack J l and then the transmitter plugged into jack JIM would be rendered operative. In order to accomplish this result, relays I I8 and 306 are slow-acting relays, relay I06 being slower than relay 206 and relay 308 being slower than relay I05. At the end of the message being sent by transrnltter'm, relay I05 becomes deenergized as described above. Assuming that transmitters have been plugged into both jacks J l and J I 00, the circuits of relays 206 and 305 will be closed simultaneously upon the deenergization of relay lot. The circuit of relay 206 may be traced through key 208, contacts 20! of-the jack J l, the right hand inner armature and back contact of relay 207' and the fourth armatures and back contacts of relays 308 and I06, respectively. The circuit of relay 306 may be traced through the key 308, contacts 30! of the jack J Ill, right hand inner armature and back contact of relay 367, inner armature and back contact of relay I06 and second armature and back contact of relay 2% to battery at the contacts of relay 91.

Since relay 206 is faster than relay 306, the former becomes energized and interrupts at its second armature and back contact the circuit of relay 3%. The transmitter plugged into jack J 0 till is thus held inoperative until the transmitter plugged into jack Jl has completed its function. It will be noted that the respective circuits of each of the relays I 86, 206 and 306 include back contacts of each of the other relays so that only one of said relays is energized at the same time. It will be obvious, therefore, that if more than one transmitter is plugged into the jacks J l, J IU, J Hill when relays M and 97 are energized to transfer the distributor 'IDl from the local transmitter Tia to the switchboard, the connected transmitters will be rendered operative one after the other in response to the successive operation 01 relays I06, 206 and 3536. I

Since relay its is faster than relays 206 and 366, and relay 266 is faster than relay 306, the transmitter plugged into jack Jl will take preceence over those plugged into jacks J 60 and J I", and the transmitter plugged into jack Jill will take precedence over that plugged into J I00. This feature of the invention is advantageous for example in a system where it is desired that a certain selected switchboard position have preferred access to outgoing channels.

In the case of incoming messages over the multiplex or other inter-city trunk channels, the messages may be received on storage units having associated repeater transmitters connected to P ugs adapted to be inserted into the jacks in the switchboard for relaying the messages over a selected channel as in the case of messages received from the branch offices. Thus messages a received over channel 3 of the receiving distributor R02 (Fig. 4) are stored by the storage unit rm (Fig. 3) which may be a tape reperforator.

The tape transmitter 'I'Tll associated with the storage unit MR may be connected by means of the multiple conductor plug MPH and jacl: J H corresponding to Jacks Jl', Jill and Jlflll, or any of the other switchboard jacks, to the desired channel. The transmitter 1TH and connecting plug MPH are similar to the transmitters 'I'Il, TT2 and 1T3, and the associated plugs MP! MP2 and MP3. The advantages accruing from the use of uniform or similarly constructed apparatus units and switchboard circuits for handling messages from' both simplex lines and multiplex channels will be obvious. From a practical stanclpoint the use of repeater units adapted to operate in conjunction with the multiplex distributors without intermediate storing or synchronizing ap atus is also of great importance. The operation of the repeater transmitter 'I'Ill and associated switchboard apparatus involved in relaying messages being the same as in the case of the transmitter T1! described above, a detailed description thereof is unnecessary.

In the system shown in Figs. 3, 1- -and 5, as stated above the sequence of operation in case more than one repeater transmitter is plugged into the same channel is such that certain jacks in the switchboard take preference over other Jacks. If desired, the system may be arranged to render the transmitters connected to a channel operative in a predetermined order. This modification is 11- lustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the general arrange: ment of the system shown in these figures of the drawings being similar to that shown in Figs. 3, 4

TD4. The distributor TD4 is similar to the distributor TDI except .that it is provided with two local segments 90a, b for each channel. The other elements of the system shown in Figs. 6 and '7 having corresponding elements in the system shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are designated by the same reference numerals with the suflix a.

In order to render the transmitters plugged into the jacks J2, J20 and J200 operative in a predetermined order, a sequence control switch such as a rotary step-by-step switch is-provided having three contact armsv I20, I2I and I22. A control relay I23 is arranged to control the circuit of the switch steppin magnet I24 which is adapted to actuate the contact arms I20, I2I and I22, stepping the arms from one setof bank contacts to the next when the magnet is deenergized. The stepping magnet I 24 is connected through the armature and back contact of relay' I23 and conductor I25 to the'local segment 90b of dis tributor TD4 whereby the switch is stepped dur ing each revolution of the distributor brushes 9Ia so long as the relay I23 is deenergized'. Relay I23 is connected to contact arm I20 of the sequence control switch and contact arms I2I and I22 are arranged to control throughtheir associated bank contacts the circuits of relays I06a, 206a and 306a to initiate the operation of the transmitters plugged into the associated jacks. While only three jacks, J2, J20 and J200 withtheir control circuits are shown, it will be apparent that any desired number of circuits may be provided in connection with the control switch.

When the switchboard circuits are idle, it will be remembered that relay 31a isdeenergized.

The contact arms of the control switch are, stepped until the first row of the bank contacts is reached through the above described stepping circuit. Upon the engagement of the contact arm I20with its first contact, a circuit is closed from battery through the winding of relay I23, conergized if a repeater transmitter has been plugged into one of the jacks J2, J20 or J200 at the' switchboard, the circuit of said relay including conductor 90a, contacts IOIa of Jack J20 and the armature and back contact of relay I0'Ia (assuming that the repeater transmitter has been plugged into the jack J20). The energization of relay 91a interrupts the above-described circuit of relay I23, whereupon the circuit of stepping magnet I24 is closed and the contact arms I20, I2I and I22 are stepped from one set oi. bank contacts to the next. pUpon the engagement of contact arm I20 with its third contact, the circuit of relay I23 is closed through the right hand inner armature and back contact 01' relay I0'Ia, contacts IOIa of jack J20 and key I08a whereupon the circuit of the stepping mag-'- net I24 is interrupted and the stepping oi the switch ceases. when the contact arms I2I and I22 engage their third contacts. a circuit is closed through the key I08a, contacts I0 Ia of jack J20, right hand inner armature and back contact of relay I0'Ia and contact arms 'I2I and I22. for energizing relay I00a. Relay I06a becomes energized and initiates the operation of the service code transmitter NIO and of the transmitter plugged into the Jack J20 as .described above in connection with the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and-5.

At the end of the massage relay I0Ia becomes energized and interrupts the described circuits of'relays I06a and I23 whereupon the circuit of the stepping magnet I24 is reclosed. If repeater I transmitters had been plugged into both jacks J and J200, after the first message had been sent as described above, the stepping of the switch arms I20, 'I2I and I22 into engagement with their fourth contacts-would close the circuits of. relays 306a and I23, and the transmitter plugged into jack J200 would be rendered operative. Ii,

' on the other hand, while the arms of the sequence switch are on the first contacts, transmitters had been plugged into jacks J2 and J20 or J200 simultaneously, the transmitter connected to jack J2 would be rendered operative before either or the others. Thus the transmitters are rendered operative in predetermined order, depending upon their connection to the sequence control switch, when more than one transmitter is plugged into jacks allocated to the same channel at the same time. When all of the messages awaiting trans mission at the switchboard have been sent, the relay 91a becomes deenergizedwhen ground potential is removed from conductor 98a at the switchboard and the local transmitter T4A is reconnected to the distributor TD4.

vAs stated above, the more complete system shown in Fig. 2 embodies means for relaying messages to either multiplex channels or simplex branch oflice lines. The-connections through the switchboard to multiplex channels may be eflected by utilizing apparatus similar to that shownlines for the purpose of transmitting messages to the branch ofllces from the central omce may be similar to that shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring to these figures of the drawings, a

branch omce BOI0 is shown in Fig. 8. The,

printer PR. at this branch office is connected to an idle reperforator RIO at the central offlce upon actuating a key K. The finder switch SWI 0 for seizing an idle reperforator'is similar to the finder switch SWI or SW2 in Fig. 1. A tape transmitter 'I'II0 associated with the reperforator Rl0is connected to a multiple conshown, the connectionof the jacks-to the selected simplex line when more than one plug is inserted insaid jacks'at the same time is controlled by a sequence switch as in the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The local transmitter correleased and the transmission of the service codesignals from the transmitter Nll proceeds in the manner described above in connection with Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the code signals forieachcharacter having added to them the rest and start signals by the distributor SSDI in order to operate the start-stop printer at the called oflice. At the end of each revolution of the brush arm of the start-stop distributor, a circuit is closed from battery through ring I64, contact I'll) of ring I65,

conductor ill and the inner armature and front contact of relay 43b for stepping the actuating magnet corresponding to the'magnet 41 (Fig. 5) of the numbering mechanism NI I.

When the numbering mechanism Nll com-- pletesv its cycle of operation, ground potential is applied as described above in connection with Fig.

5 to the conductor 96b, whereupon the relay 40b becomes deenergized and interrupts the circuit of relay 43b, thereby disconnecting the service code transmitter Nil from the distributor 'SSDI. The deenergization of relay 401 also closed a circult from ground through the outer armature and front contact of relay i06b, the winding of- 'armatures and front contacts of said relay and the cable llllb. The energization of relay l03b also closesacircuit through its left hand armature and front contact for'energizing the latch magnet I60 of the start-stop distributor, whereupon the message stored in the tape at the transmitter TTlll is transmitted under the control of the .distributor SSDI, the stepping magnet of the transmitter TTlO being connected through conductor #6 of cable lMb and the conductor ill to the stepping segment l 'lll ofthe distributor.

At the end of the message the special end-ofmessage signal energizes relay 432 of the baffle relay group Hi to 435, the relays 3| and 433,

434 and 435 remaining deenergized; Thereupon a circuit is closed from ground through the lower armature and back contact of relay 43 l the lower armature and front contact of relay 432 and the lower armatures and back contacts of relays 433, 434 and 435 to battery through the winding of relay llllb, whereupon this relay becomes energized. Relay llilb corresponds to relay ll" of Fig. 3 and effects the lighting of the supervisory lamp 519 and the release of the selected circult in the same manner as described above in connection withthe modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The switching operator withdraws the plug MPlli to restore the switching apparatus to normal. If the nextfcliowing message in tape transmitter Trill is destined for the same branch offlce, the switching operator does not withdraw plug MPllI but opens key I081) momentarily, thus restoring the switching apparatus to normal and putting it in condition to send another message.

In case the operator at the branch ofnce Boll is sending a message, upon completion of the -message she restores the key Kto normal, relay I50 becomes deenergized and closes the circuit of relay li'lcwhereupon the circuit to the branch office BOIO becomes accessible to calls originatin the claims is ing from the central omce as just described for branch oiflce Boll.

The central omce transmitting equipment associated with eachof the branch ofiice lines is similar to that shown in the upper half of Fig.

9, the corresponding transmitting apparatus units associated with the branch ofllce line to branch ofllce BOIO being shown in the lower half of Fig. 9. Similarly the branch oiiice equipment and the central omce equipment for 'receiving messagesfrom the branch ofiice are the same as shown in the lower part of Fig. 8 for each of the branch omces.

In the case oi messages originating at a remote office and received on a multiplex channel terminating at the central oflice, the messages are stored andrepeated as described above by a reperforator and associated tape transmitter, such as the multiplex'reperforator MR- and the tape transmitter 'I'Ill shown in Fig. 3. In order to transmitthe message to one of the branch oflices, the multiple conductor plug'MPl l is inserted into a jack switch, as the jack J or J3l,

individual to the desired branch ofllce line.-

Thereupon the message is transmitted in the 'same manner as in the case of a message'origmaintained on the multiplex channels by separate means so that start-stop signals are not required. This is an important feature of the invention as it greatly simplifies the system and results in a large saving in the cost of apparatus and maintenance.

While several systems embodyinz/ the inventhe various features thereof, it will be obvious that many changes and further modifications 'tion have been described 'in order to illustrate may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended, claims. Certain features of the invention are applicable, to other systems than those for handling telegraph messages, for example where a signal or a group of signals has tobe repeated at an intermediate point irrespective of the character or purpose of such signals. Thus the invention may be embodied in a facsimile transmission system', and the term "message signals" intended to include facsimile signals. r

We claim:

1. In a telegraph system, a central station, a

- plurality of telegraph channels terminating at said central station, a plurality of character storage devices for storing character signals received over incoming channels, a transmitter associated with each storage device for repeating signals stored therein and manually operable switching means for connecting each of said transmitters to any one of a plurality of outgoing telegraph channels. i

2. In a telegraph system, a central station, a plurality of telegraph channels terminating at said central station, a plurality of character storage devices for storing character signals received over incoming channels, a transmitter associated with each storage device for repeating signals stored therein, manually operable switching 

